Hands Off UNRWA
Join the global campaign
to stop the ban
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to provide services for registered Palestine refugees in the Middle East. For 75 years, UNRWA has been the primary humanitarian provider for nearly 6 million refugees across the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, delivering emergency assistance and development services like education, primary healthcare, food, and shelter.
On October 28, 2024, the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) passed a devastating vote to ban UNRWA from operating in the occupied Palestinian territory. This decision comes during the worst humanitarian crisis in Palestinian history, where at least 43,000 people in Gaza have been killed by the ongoing Israeli military assault, and thousands remain missing under the rubble. In the next 90 days, millions of refugees now face the potential loss of UNRWA support in an already catastrophic situation.
Join UNRWA USA in standing against this outrageous and unjust ban on UNRWA and raise our voices in declaring #HandsOffUNRWA, as we demand recognition of UNRWA’s irreplaceable role.
Our digital advocacy toolkit is your resource for understanding UNRWA’s work and ways to take action against the UNRWA ban. Join us in declaring #HandsOffUNRWA.
#HandsOffUNRWA Digital Toolkit
#HandsOffUNRWA Digital Toolkit
Amplify Your Voice
Access ready-to-use graphics, videos, and social media templates
to help raise awareness about the unjust ban on UNRWA.
Use these tools to spread the message, engage your community,
and urge your representatives to protect the vital services UNRWA
provides to millions of Palestine refugees.
Together, we can make a difference!
call to action
With a 90-day window before the ban takes effect,
here’s how you can act:
Share this toolkit and its messages across your
networks to amplify our cause.
Spread awareness
Contact your US representatives to urge them to restore
US government funding to UNRWA.
advocate
Donate to UNRWA USA to keep urgent humanitarian aid
flowing to Palestine refugees.
Support refugees
stay informed
Learn more and help educate others about UNRWA’s role in
providing education, healthcare, and relief services
educate
Key Talking Points
Israel’s recent legislation to ban UNRWA in the occupied Palestinian territory threatens millions' access to life-saving aid, with a 90-day countdown before the ban takes full effect.
recent ban
While UNRWA remains active during this window, now is the critical time to take action and support the Agency and speak up for Palestine refugees.
unrwa still operational
UNRWA provides essential services like education, healthcare, and emergency relief to nearly 6 million refugees. In Gaza, dismantling UNRWA would collapse the entire UN humanitarian response.
life-saving support
The ban threatens the education of 650,000 children in the Gaza Strip and 50,000 in the West Bank, with long-term consequences for their futures.
education at risk
messaging
sample post
📢 Speak Up for UNRWA! 📢
With Israel banning @UNRWA, millions of Palestine refugees will suffer and many could die. This decision limits critical humanitarian aid while promoting narratives that undermine UNRWA’s life-saving role. By speaking up on social media and in your communities, you help counter misinformation and ensure that the voices of refugees and their allies are heard. Let’s unite to protect UNRWA’s mission of dignity, stability, and hope for millions in need. Your voice is powerful, necessary, and has the potential to influence hearts and minds for Palestine.
📝 90 Days to Act: #HandsOffUNRWA!
The Israeli government's recent vote to ban UNRWA threatens the lives of millions of Palestine refugees. As the main UN agency in Gaza, UNRWA provides over 60% of all assistance, including education, healthcare, food, and shelter. Global leaders affirm there is no alternative to its crucial services.
sample post
graphics
tag @unrwausa
Use #HandsOffUNRWA
resources
Continue to educate yourself and others on UNRWA’s mission, stay informed about the ban on UNRWA, and understand the challenges Palestine refugees face on the ground. Use UNRWA USA’s tools to stay updated on ways to support Palestine refugees effectively.
Follow UNRWA USA across social media
Subscribe to our email list to receive the latest updates
restore funding
As members of Congress are home to campaign for reelection, we must act now to identify and rally as many members as possible who align themselves with UNRWA’s humanitarian and human development mission.
Unfortunately, not only are UNRWA detractors in the United States working to block future US funding to UNRWA, efforts are also underway in Israel to dismantle the Agency.
The Israeli lawmaking body, the Knesset, just passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in the areas of annexed East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank within 90 days. Israeli lawmakers also voted to declare UNRWA a “terror group,” effectively banning any direct interaction between the UN Agency and the State of Israel. If implemented, this dangerous legislation would dismantle the entire humanitarian operation in Gaza and would create a terrible global precedent for all UN agencies providing humanitarian aid in conflict zones.
But there’s hope. UNRWA supporters in the US House of Representatives, including Reps. Carson, Jayapal, and Schakowsky are leading the charge to restore US funding for UNRWA through the “UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024” or H.R. 9649.
You can help bring the United States back as UNRWA’s top donor by reaching out to your representatives and urging them to co-sponsor this critical piece of legislation. By doing so, you can help secure the support needed to restore US government funding for UNRWA and the life-saving services it provides to Palestine refugees.
about unrwa usa
Founded in 2005, the UNRWA USA National Committee (UNRWA USA) is an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the humanitarian mission of UNRWA. UNRWA USA lifts up the voices, experiences, and humanity of Palestine refugees to secure American support for resources essential to every human being, for the promise of a better life.
Through nationwide fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement, UNRWA USA mobilizes support for resources vital to human dignity and opportunity. We are a community of individuals and partners committed to showing Palestine refugees that Americans care.
Mara Kronenfeld
Executive Director
UNRWA USA
“The human cost of this ban is immeasurable. This Israeli Knesset vote banning UNRWA is not merely an attack on the UN Agency; it’s an attack on the fundamental rights and dignity due to all human beings. The consequences of this ban could result in the loss of tens of thousands, if not more, precious Palestinian lives. Where is the humanity?”
FAQs
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Yes, UNRWA and UNRWA USA are still operational. While UNRWA and UNRWA USA remain active during this window, now is the critical time to take action and support UNRWA and speak up for Palestine refugees.
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